Patrick M. Gallivan's posts related to Health

Like everything in the United States, drug use and abuse has evolved alongside the ebb and flow of larger American culture. The sixties and seventies saw the rise in recreational use of marihuana and psychedelics like LSD. Later cocaine become a popular substance of choice, and along with it, the development of crack cocaine – a compound so addictive and destructive that many communities are still struggling to recover from the crack epidemic of the late eighties and early nineties that devastated neighborhoods and urban centers across the country. More recently, we have experienced an increase in heroin and synthetic opioid use along with designer drugs like ecstasy and methamphetamine.

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) sponsored legislation today to freeze New York State’s plan to close psychiatric health centers across the state, including the Western New York Children’s Psychiatric Center in the Town of West Seneca.

Gallivan is the third senator to sponsor the “Freeze Unsafe Closures Now Act” (S.5986), which places a moratorium on closing the Western New York Children’s Psychiatric Center in West Seneca and all targeted facilities until April 1, 2015, providing lawmakers, the executive and mental health experts time to devise a plan that is more responsive to the needs and challenges of Western New York’s mentally ill.

ERIE COUNTY - Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) was joined by several of his Western New York senate colleagues today in calling for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to again reconsider the closing of the Western New York Children’s Psychiatric Center in West Seneca and relocating its patients to the Buffalo Psychiatric Center in North Buffalo.

“Concerns have been raised across the state about closing and consolidating specialized mental health facilities and in recent weeks we have seen the Governor address those concerns in the Southern Tier and the North Country. I am now calling on him to take a closer look at our facility in West Seneca and to again consider the negative impact its closure could have on the very unique patients it serves – children,” Gallivan said.

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan, Assemblyman Michael P. Kearns, Assemblywoman Jane Corwin, Assemblyman Raymond Walter, Erie County Legislator Joe Lorigo and West Seneca Town Supervisor Sheila Meegan joined with advocates and parents to decry the New York State Office of Mental Health’s proposal to close the Western New York Chrildren’s Psychiatric Center in West Seneca and relocate its patients to the Buffalo Psychiatric Center in North Buffalo.

The debate on whether New York State should authorize the use of medical marihuana has been extensive and often emotional. After hearing from constituents, medical experts and reviewing the latest research, I now believe that limited use of marihuana for seriously ill patients under a doctor’s care is justified and warranted.

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) will serve as Honorary Chairman of the Wyoming County Community Blood Drive on July 23. Unyts will collect blood donations between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. at Wyoming County Community Hospital at 400 North Main Street in Warsaw.